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Objectives:
The aim of this study was to assess the possible relationship between salivary cariogenic microflora,
buffer capacity, secretion rate and caries experience among 6 –year- old school going children in Davangere city,
Karnataka, India.
Study design:
A total of 196, 6 year old school children were selected by a two- stage random sampling method.
Parents were interviewed regarding sociodemographic details. Clinical examination of children was conducted to
assess dental caries experience and stimulated saliva was collected to assess S.mutans levels, lactobacilli, salivary
flow and buffering capacity of saliva. Difference in proportions was tested using Pearson 2 test, and also analysis
of variance (ANOVA) was used to evaluate difference between the groups. Dental caries experience was correlated
with salivary factors using Spearman’s correlation coefficient.
Results: Out of 196 children, 96 were boys and 100 were girls. Overall 97 (49.49%) children were caries free (
dmft, DMFT = 0) and 99 (50.51%) children presented with caries (dmft, DMFT > 0), out of which 42 (42.42%)
were boys and 57 (57.58%) were girls and there was no significant diffrence between two groups (p = 0.086, two
sided). The mean dmft and dmfs score for the overall group was 3.20 and 5.43 respectively. The mean DMFT
and DMFS score was 0.23 and 0.25 respectively. Statistically significant difference (Independent sample t- test)
(p <0.05) was found between mean ft and mean fs scores between sexes. A highly significant correlation was seen
between the mean caries score and salivary variables.
Conclusion:
To conclude, high levels of salivary microbiological counts in correlation with the caries data stress the
importance of these factors and urge the necessity of elective preventive programs in this region
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